The Everyone Orchestra has announced additional shows for the Eastern states for April and May 2015. Joining conductor Matt Butler in the northeast this April are Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident) [DC and Stroudsburg], Andrew Altman (Railroad Earth), Cris Jacobs (The Bridge), Jesse Harper (Love Canon), and Jay Starling (Love Canon).

Conductor Matt Butler is a genius! However he got inspired to come up with this idea of improvisational conducting talented musicians was brilliant. The reason that I say this is because it is very pleasant and beneficial to all parties when musicians are happier than the crowd. Everyone wins! There are only a few inspirational times when that happens. I see it when I am at major festivals and musicians are collaborating, or I see it in super jams such as the Everyone Orchestra.

The final day of Harvest was one of celebration. We managed to have perfect weather, and even Yonder Mountain String Band was singing the praises of clear skies. As usual, some of the best shows happened on Saturday, the day when we all try to cram in as much music and fun as possible…ready-but-not-ready for our journey home the next day.

The 2nd annual ARISE Music Festival was full of magic, wonder, music, acrobats, dancers, poets, and artists of all kinds just as it was last year during its debut. After reviewing the pre-party in Boulder and attending the open house on site, I knew that the creators and help of this amazing festival would come together once again to produce a loving, creative, and musical environment, which would provide endless delight for everyone involved.

Once again The Werk Out music festival impressed me beyond beliefe. This is the second year I have attended this event at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, and I can’t imagine missing this music festival. Legend Valley has always had a very special place in my heart. It is near Buckeye Lake, a venue the Grateful Dead frequented in their later years.

In less than a month, Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio will be opening its gates once again for The Werk Out Music Festival. This event, hosted August 7, 8, and 9th is in its fifth year is one you should not miss. The lineup features some of the best bands from around the Midwest, combined with exquisite visual and performance artists. This festival truly shows what the Midwest is about: good music, good friends, and good memories.

The disco themed LoHi Music Festival held in the lower highlands Denver neighborhood started with a bang with Genetics and Blake Mobley’s collaborative musical project Tiger Party, that this time featured guitarist Tom Hamilton from Brother’s Past and American Babies. After a brief down pour of rain during the Heavy Pets set, the skies opened up to a beautiful day for a city festival. The set-up of the festival worked well except for the absence of a poster and the LoHi money exchange, which is never a good idea.

For the third year in a row I had the honor to attend one of my favorite events all year. There is nothing else in this world that can put a smile on my face quite like a familiar Grateful Dead tune can. This year at Dark Star Jubilee was just as beautiful as the last three. I couldn’t have picked a better way to spend my Memorial Day weekend.

Hey Denver! Get excited about one of our cities best festivals of the summer featuring a DISCO theme throughout the festival, amazing music, food, and revelry to kick off summer 2014. There are festival heavy hitters on the lineup already, and there are more to come…stay tuned and get your tickets for Beverage Distributors Presents: LOHI Music Festival are on sale now at www.lohimusicfestival.com!